US Navy Honors Bush with Largest Fighter Formation of Its Type in History

The Navy honored President George H.W. Bush on Thursday with the largest-ever 21-plane missing man formation flyover as part of his funeral service in College Station, Texas.

USNI News reported that 30 F/A-18 Hornets departed from Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, Virginia, earlier this week to take part in services for Bush in Texas.

The missing man formation was intended to highlight the late president’s service during World War II as a naval aviator in the Pacific Theater.

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“Being selected to participate in this memorial is one of the highest honors a Naval Aviator can receive,” Rear Adm. Roy Kelley, commander of Naval Air Force Atlantic, said in a statement to USNI News.

“In addition to being our president, he was also one of our brothers, flying combat missions off aircraft carriers during World War II. His service to our Navy and nation merits a tribute of this magnitude.”

This is the jet which will lead an unprecedented 21-aircraft flyover honoring fellow Naval Aviator President George H. W. Bush. The jets will be over President and First Lady Bush in College Station at 1615 CST Thursday. CAPT Kevin “Proton” McLaughlin will fly it, in the lead. pic.twitter.com/cfsupC7v08

Capt. Kevin McLaughlin, the commander of Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic, was slated to fly the lead plane. “His aircraft has been painted to list ‘President George H.W. Bush, 41’ where the pilot’s name would typically go and ‘Barbara, First Lady’ where the naval flight officer’s name might go,” according to USNI News.

The Navy released a video detailing Bush’s career as a naval aviator, including his harrowing rescue from sea after being shot down by the Japanese.

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CBS News reported that Bush flew an Avenger bomber aircraft, which had a three-man crew.

The lieutenant junior grade’s plane was hit by Japanese anti-aircraft fire on a mission over the Central Pacific island of Chichijima on Sept. 2, 1944.

Bush managed to complete his mission while his plane was burning and then turned it to go out to sea.

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Retired Adm. Samuel Cox, director of Naval History and Heritage Command, explained that pilots who parachuted down to the island were executed.

Randy DeSoto is the senior staff writer for The Western Journal. He wrote and was the assistant producer of the documentary film "I Want Your Money" about the perils of Big Government, comparing the presidencies of Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama. Randy is the author of the book "We Hold These Truths," which addresses how leaders have appealed to beliefs found in the Declaration of Independence at defining moments in our nation's history. He has been published in several political sites and newspapers.
Randy graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a BS in political science and Regent University School of Law with a juris doctorate.

Birthplace

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Nationality

American

Honors/Awards

Graduated dean's list from West Point

Education

United States Military Academy at West Point, Regent University School of Law